Time for a new bench grinder me thinks

[BurtEggley]

Tool rest on a 25 year old Craftsman 1/3 hp consumer grinder broke a week ago. The part is nla years ago and used it is more than an equal used grinder. The present grinder is a 6" consumer grade unit that I have already replaced bearings in once and it is probably due again. I use a wire wheel mostly, and also use a cool running grinder wheel made by Norton. 3600 RPM. Anyone have suggestions as to a new grinder? I was looking at this 8" dual speed one: https://bucktool.com/products/bucktool-power-tools-8-inch-dual-speed-cast-iron-base-bench-grinder It is probably more than I need based on I am 75 now and won't get the full life of it. I was going just to replace the tool rest but the only one I could find used was $75 (what a joke, like does this person actually expect to sell the used part) and used grinders of the same model are just too far to drive to get one - and 85% the price of a new grinder. I also looked at this one but I think it won't do as well as the first one I posted https://www.acehardware.com/departments/tools/power-tools/bench-grinders/2037630 Also see where Vevor has some inexpensive ones, I have one of their ultrasound washers and it has worked really well. https://www.vevor.com/bench-grinder...0rpm-high-speed-table-grinders-p_010633655751

 

[Nutria]

Anyone have suggestions as to a new grinder?

An old grinder? Lots of used, classic MiUSA grinders out there if you don't mind going that route. Horsepower ratings on those old machines tend to be closer to reality than new ones.

 

[BurtEggley]

An old grinder? Lots of used, classic MiUSA grinders out there if you don't mind going that route. Horsepower ratings on those old machines tend to be closer to reality than new ones.

1998 craftsman chinese made 1/3 hp 6" unit. Nothing special.

 

[BurtEggley]

also, I looked locally on FB marketplace and CL. The used ones for sale presently are mostly chinese models sold by Harbor Freight. The Baldor or Jet ones etc people want close to a $1000 used which is more than a new one from the same companies. I don' feel like dickering with someone who prices a grinder like that, or waiting until a deal comes along. I should be able to find something well under $200 that works well. There are some priced right but they are a 200 mile drive, well over my tolerance to go buy a grinder. Gas here is close to $6 a gallon and it would be $60 in gas to drive that far, not to mention oil and tires etc..

 

[pcrov]

Aside from wear is there anything about your old grinder you wished was different? Now is a good time to upgrade whatever annoyed you. Beefier tool rest maybe. I wouldn't worry about getting the full life of the tool as much as the tool improving your life.

If there's nothing then it's hard to beat $50-60 for a brand new one with free shipping. Pick your favorite cheap Chinese brand and retailer. I'd expect Vevor, Wen, Bauer, etc. to be pretty much clones at this point.

 

[larry4406]

If its just the broken tool rest on your current grinder that bothers you, make a new one out of a piece of angle iron.

 

[jayemm]

OP might want to view some youtube reviews on grinders. There's a lot of gutless 2.1 amp 6" grinders that look identical except for paint color and label (Wen, Bauer etc) that don't have the power of your old Craftsman. Project farm did a test on 8" grinders. The 8" Bauer or Hercules from Harbor Freight may be an option if snagged at a good sale price.

 

[liliysdad]

Craftsman blocks are cheap and available. If that won’t get it done, it’s time to start Baldor shopping.

 

[Nessism]

I have a Jet 6" that has served me quite well over the years. The price has risen, though, to $300 these days. That's a lot of coin for a smallish grinder, and no disrespect, especially for a 75-year-old. I'm 11 years younger, and when buying tools these days, I imagine them all going for pennies on the dollar come estate sale time when I die.

One thing I'd encourage is to look for a grinder with a motor that doesn't look like a balloon. A narrow body motor makes getting at the wheel easier. Many of the cheap grinders have poor ergonomics.

 

[finn]

I’ve got about five grinders in various locations, ranging from a pretty nice (although not as nice as a commerccial Baldor) 8” Craftsman Professional, to an old Craftsman box grinder. The one I use the most I built in high school with a washing machine motor and an arbor from grandpas’s basement. I keep hoping it will die so I can throw it out it’s 58 years old now and the motor’s a good fifteen or more older than that.

For what you’re doing, the Buck looks pretty good, although the Craftsman or a Dewalt might be cheaper. Wire wheels don’t typically require much power, the way I use them, and I rarely use a grinding wheel anymore. Angle grinders and abrasive belts have taken over most grinding wheel tasks.


i picked up a Bauer from the return table at HF for $20 or so. Came with a 3 day warranty, but works fine. The manager says the returns get sent to Mississippi where rhey are checked out, then sent to stores where they are put on end caps and sold cheap…with a three day warranty so the customer can verify they work.

 

[Kscardsfan]

Just keep watching FBMP and CL for deals. Around here at least, they seem to come in waves. I'll see a ton come up for sale all at once and then they dry up again.

 

[exmaxima1]

It would help if we knew the op's location. It doesn't seem plausible that decent used grinders are listed at $1000 or that gas is currently $6/gallon. Is this AK or HI?

 

[dscheidt]

If its just the broken tool rest on your current grinder that bothers you, make a new one out of a piece of angle iron.

There are also many replacements available, that are generally better than what comes with grinders that cost less than a car.


The cheap Chinese grinders are all garbage, no power, crappy guards and worse tool rests. The better Chinese ones are better, but I have never seen one with a decent tool rest.

 

[MongoTA]

Are you against old equipment? If so, no worries, I understand wanting new. But I've picked up a few Baldors over the years at auction. Depends on the auction, but could be $80 to $150 if it includes a pedestal. I have a few of these 6"- 8" ($80-$110 range):

Plus a buffer, this was at the high end ($150):



One pedestal has a steel plate on top of the pedestal, I have two grinders mounted back-to-back on that plate. One a Baldor, the other a newer (maybe 8 year old?) Delta 8" variable speed.

For me, FBMP can be hit or miss bcause of sketchy sellers, I got all these online through Bidspotter dot com auctions.

As someone mentioned, if it's simply a broken tool rest, you can bend or weld one up as needed. I had to make a replacement for a missing tool rest for one of my Baldors.

EDIT: An example of what is out there on Bidspotter. That's a generic search, you can narrow results by location, or find more offerings by just searching for "bench grinder".

 

[finn]

Are you against old equipment? If so, no worries, I understand wanting new. But I've picked up a few Baldors over the years at auction. Depends on the auction, but could be $80 to $150 if it includes a pedestal. I have a few of these 6"- 8" ($80-$110 range):

Plus a buffer, this was at the high end ($150):



One pedestal has a steel plate on top of the pedestal, I have two grinders mounted back-to-back on that plate. One a Baldor, the other a newer (maybe 8 year old?) Delta 8" variable speed.

For me, FBMP can be hit or miss bcause of sketchy sellers, I got all these online through Bidspotter dot com auctions.

As someone mentioned, if it's simply a broken tool rest, you can bend or weld one up as needed. I had to make a replacement for a missing tool rest for one of my Baldors.

EDIT: An example of what is out there on Bidspotter. That's a generic search, you can narrow results by location, or find more offerings by just searching for "bench grinder".

I entered my zip code near Tucson.

Zero hits within 100 miles.

Chasing used machines is a fools errand in my experience, unless you do it for fun. For some it’s the thrill of the hunt, and I understand that, but it’s usually no go to fill an immediate need. And for most, a $1000 grinder isn’t an immediate need if it’s only going to run a wire wheel in a home two car garage.

 

[BurtEggley]

In answer - Central California. That should answer the question on gasoline and prices. The deals are in the Bay Area and Los Angeles where lots of people are leaving / retiring leaving / companies closing leaving. They are too far to drive for just a grinder. We have no plans to drive either place, in fact some of the highways now here are turning from freeways to toll roads. The congestion is awful in these areas because the number of free lanes have been reduced.

Lots of good suggestions from y'all. Think I will start with Project Farm as suggested.

The current one is only a 2.1 amp 1/3 HP. I have a good battery powered angle grinder for sharpening lawn mower blades etc.. Great tool. The bearings are starting to talk again on this bench grinder, and it has the broken tool rest. It has seen a lot of use and better days. I sometimes want to buff things and the speed is too high for that, it shreds the buffing wheels. That is why the dual speed one seemed attractive. No room for a second grinder. Most of my big projects are done. The dealer maintains the Acura, we have a great mechanic for the Sable wagon, and the classic car is restored - probably will get sold since I rarely drive it anymore. Too many crazy drivers here to feel comfortable taking it out except occasionally.

 

[Steve_P]

3A is awfully small for grinding or buffing IMO. As said, watch the PF tests and see what you like. I have the Jet in that test and it's a beast. I know a lot of people here think there's some magic in a Baldor, or any vintage USA grinder, but I'm not chasing after it.

 

[BurtEggley]

3A is awfully small for grinding or buffing IMO. As said, watch the PF tests and see what you like. I have the Jet in that test and it's a beast. I know a lot of people here think there's some magic in a Baldor, or any vintage USA grinder, but I'm not chasing after it.

yes, PF is on my list todo later today. Thank you.

 

[BurtEggley]

Looked at PF. The Hercules he rated looked nice but they are $200 now. Looked at HF coupons to see if any worked on it, none. I agree that the 2.1 amp units are mostly under powered. New Jet and Baldor are too expensive. May just have to keep my eyes on the used ones that come up for sale, until something seems reasonable for the money. That or get the lowest cost 2.1 amp ones out there until something better comes up. Or live with a broken tool rest and bearings that are getting close to the end again.

 

[rsanter]

Look for a good used one

 

[zendriver]

If a crappy one lasted you 30 years, this one might be around long after your are gone.

https://www.harborfreight.com/6-in-bench-grinder-with-led-lights-57286.html

 

[BurtEggley]

Look for a good used one

have been. Nothing that jumps out to me yet. All here are priced higher than a new one of similar power, and quality. And the used ones are in worn out condition for the most part. A used Jet missing parts might be for sale at $750 when a new one of that same model is $600 with a warranty, straight from the manufacturer. Maybe they want their other half to think they are trying to sell it, I dunno.

 

[no704]

I got a dewalt 6” a couple years ago on Amazon. Good price hasn’t let me down.

 

[BurtEggley]

is that the DW756? I looked at that one too. $101 here locally on sale with a 15% off coupon at Ace.

 

[jayemm]

Looked at PF. The Hercules he rated looked nice but they are $200 now. Looked at HF coupons to see if any worked on it, none. I agree that the 2.1 amp units are mostly under powered. New Jet and Baldor are too expensive. May just have to keep my eyes on the used ones that come up for sale, until something seems reasonable for the money. That or get the lowest cost 2.1 amp ones out there until something better comes up. Or live with a broken tool rest and bearings that are getting close to the end again.

Harbor Freight has other grinders. That $200 Hercules also weighs 48 lbs and may be more grinder than you need. And there's other grinder videos on youtube. And as suggested, check out Dewalt. There's also Lowes and Amazon. You also may score a variable speed one if your present grinder has been too fast for your application. There's lots of grinders out there. Look around some more.

 

[BurtEggley]

Thanks. I was thinking the two speed buckhorn because it concerns me that the variable speed one use an electronic control for speed, and reviews indicate it may be a weakness. The factory warranty at HF is only 90 days, and even the extended warranty at HF is only 2 years or so. Most of the units with a variable speed module look a lot a like. I am hoping that a dual speed unit uses different windings for the speeds but I dunno. They could also be controlled with a module.

 

[BurtEggley]

Looked at the shopfox 8" variable until I read the reviews. Of 111 reviews on Amazon, 16 were negative 1's. Mostly broken bases, bent shafts. I am so concerned that much of what is available is going to have problems like this. PF like shopfox too.

 

[RTM]

Tool rest on a 25 year old Craftsman 1/3 hp consumer grinder broke a week ago. The part is nla years ago and used it is more than an equal used grinder.

New part for almost as much as a cheap a$$ grinder, but overall May be better overall

Veritas Grinder Tool Rest - Lee Valley Tools

Discover the Veritas Grinder Tool Rest. Buy this product now on our Lee Valley online store.

www.leevalley.com

 

[finn]

Just when I said there aren’t deals on used grinders, a used Baldor popped up on marketplace this morning for $200 with an industrial stand.

Problem is that it’s a three phase, so it would need a phase converter, and I don’t have room for another grinder, or a need for that matter.

 

[BurtEggley]

this is residential use so native 3 phase is out. I think the bucktool 2 speed 8" is what I may go with. It is a capacitor run motor with a switch so there may be essentially two winding configurations. Complaints are very low in the ratings for it. The warranty is long enough to avoid out of the box issues. The only thing is I will have to study is my grinder stand to be sure it will work with it. Mine is a two bolt and the bucktool is a four bolt. Seems that the Amazon complaints on it are more frequent, like people returned a damaged in shipment bent up one and they reshipped it to someone. I have had that experience with Amazon before - where the old label with a return tag was over it and still on the inside box.

I have to drive some distance tomorrow so have to call it a day. Thanks to everyone on this.

 

[bdbecker]

I'll be curious about your experience with the Bucktool if you end up getting it.

For what it's worth, I've been very happy with my DeWalt DW758. We used the heck out of one at my last job and I figured if it could take that kind of abuse in a fabrication shop, it'll outlive me in my home shop.

 

[OccupantRJ]

Do you really need a tool rest with a wire wheel? I refurbish a LOT of items and would be hard pressed to access certain areas with a tool rest in the way. I do use the overall guard to help with slung wires and to limit the contact area on the wheel, and to prevent a complete ******-around of the part.

 

[BurtEggley]

Do you really need a tool rest with a wire wheel? I refurbish a LOT of items and would be hard pressed to access certain areas with a tool rest in the way. I do use the overall guard to help with slung wires and to limit the contact area on the wheel, and to prevent a complete ******-around of the part.

I have the tool rest off at this time. Sometimes I have the shields off, and sometimes I use a grinding wheel on it instead of a wire brush. Depends what I am doing. Used it without shields for sometime but I got tired of black walls behind it. The car parks near it too so if the car is in the garage it gets more grinding dust on it when the shields are off.

 

[woody 73]

OP nothing wrong with a Chinese bench grinder, you save a few bucks but...why buy cheap only to buy another one later, as my father used to say buy a good quality one time, cry a lot and die with it, or something like that.

I do not know where you live but this one was listed in my home state of "Ahia". This mother fxxxker will be buried with you in your grave and still be working for your kids.

Pedestal bench grinder 8” - tools - by owner - sale - craigslist

8” pedestal bench grinder with lighted guards works good 110/220 single phase. Old and heavy $200 Calls only 412-721-848 8

pittsburgh.craigslist.org

 

[BurtEggley]

thank you. Not looking for a project. Right now I am overwhelmed with them. The minute I got something like that I'd have to add it to my list to strip and paint. I've been trying to get to the vise for two years now. Just cleaned up the workbench of misc items that collected over the summer - a nut here, a bolt there, a spare drill bit, some piece of metal I know it came from something important last spring but can't remember what it was ... and a spring that looks like it belongs on something I own but nothing I can think of right now......

 

[finn]

OP nothing wrong with a Chinese bench grinder, you save a few bucks but...why buy cheap only to buy another one later, as my father used to say buy a good quality one time, cry a lot and die with it, or something like that.

I do not know where you live but this one was listed in my home state of "Ahia". This mother fxxxker will be buried with you in your grave and still be working for your kids.

Pedestal bench grinder 8” - tools - by owner - sale - craigslist

8” pedestal bench grinder with lighted guards works good 110/220 single phase. Old and heavy $200 Calls only 412-721-848 8

pittsburgh.craigslist.org

He said he’s in his seventies, and use tapers off with time.

Your father is full of BS. I picked up a Chinese grinder on clearance when a hardware store that was going out of business in about 1986. That’s forty years ago. Still works fine. That was in a residential situation. It’s moved a couple of times and is here in Az now. No way would I have dragged a couple hundred lb commercial grinder 2100 miles down here, nor would I have room for it. Plus, the big beasts take forever to spin down.

The whole buy once, cry once talk is utter ******** with the possible exception of commercial applications

That’s a different situation.

 

[liliysdad]

The whole buy once, cry once talk is utter ******** with the possible exception of commercial applications

I think your ******** claim is ********, so take that!

I’ve never once regretted buying quality, but I’ve damned sure wish I’d spent more a whole bunch of times.

 

[zendriver]

I think your ******** claim is ********, so take that!

I’ve never once regretted buying quality, but I’ve damned sure wish I’d spent more a whole bunch of times.

A bench grinder is essentially an electric motor with an arbor sticking out of each end.

How much “quality” do you need before it becomes overkill?

I have an old Baldor from an estate sale. It’s got a fairly beefy case, but essentially it’s no better or worse than the older 2 craftsman units that I have.

 

[liliysdad]

A bench grinder is essentially an electric motor with an arbor sticking out of each end.

How much “quality” do you need before it becomes overkill?

I have an old Baldor from an estate sale. It’s got a fairly beefy case, but essentially it’s no better or worse than the older 2 craftsman units that I have.

Quality doesn’t have to be expensive.

Earlier in this thread I recommended a Craftsman block grinder. They are everywhere, they are cheap, and they work great for a very long time. I’d take a block over any new Chinese grinder on the market.

That being said, my reply was to the overarching statement that “buying quality” is ********.

 

[finn]

Quality doesn’t have to be expensive.

Earlier in this thread I recommended a Craftsman block grinder. They are everywhere, they are cheap, and they work great for a very long time. I’d take a block over any new Chinese grinder on the market.

That being said, my reply was to the overarching statement that “buying quality” is ********.

There’s a point where you’re overreaching in the quest for “quality”. There are tradeoffs for everything, including “quality “ where you’re sacrificing other attributes and the additional “quality“ brings no additional benefits.

I did another Marketplace search in Tucson for grinders. There were some interesting pieces for sale, including a few what I would classify as medium duty Baldor, but they were significantly more expensive than a common Dewalt, and most were three phase, which pretty much rules them for space and hassle reasons.

Lots of imports, but I suspect they wouldn’t meet your “quality definition.

A couple of Craftsman block grinders, but priced double of a new Dewalt at HD. I have a block grinder in my collection myself, but guess what? It needs bearings like most forty or fifty year old grinders. It’s useable, though, if you don’t mind that “quality“ bearing rattle.

“Quality” is great, but you really have to look at what’s needed to do the job. I’m the same age, roughly, as the OP, and probably have the same limited use criteria for another grinder at this stage in life. We use a grinder, often with just a wire wheel, or in my case, a diamond wheel for dressing Tig tungstens. It’s not on 24/7 standby like an industrial setting, though. A 4 1/2” angle grinder is more useful for most “grinding” tasks, as the op insinuated. We don’t feel like chasing all over the state for a “deal”. We want something we can sling under our arm and schlep out of the car over to the bench, plug in and put it to use.

It doesn’t have to last another forty years. Ten is likely sufficient, in my case, and it doesn’t bring bragging rights with its name.